Milan, 15 June (LaPresse) – Istat estimates that in April 2026 exports fell by a greater margin (-2.2%) than imports (-0.6%). The statistics agency states this in its report on foreign trade and import prices for April 2026. The month-on-month decline in exports affects both the EU (-2.1%) and non-EU (-2.4%) markets. In the February-April 2026 quarter, compared with the previous quarter, exports grew by 5.0%, whilst imports rose by 6.2%. In April 2026, exports grew year-on-year by 8.8% in value and 3.5% in volume. The year-on-year growth in exports in monetary terms is stronger for non-EU markets (+12.0%) than for EU markets (+5.9%). Imports recorded a year-on-year increase of 5.5% in value, affecting both areas, the EU (+5.2%) and non-EU (+5.9%); in volume, imports grew by 3.6%. Among the sectors contributing most to the year-on-year growth in exports are base metals and metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+32.9%), coke and refined petroleum products (+52.0%), machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) (+6.3%), chemicals and chemical products (+10.5%), motor vehicles (+16.1%) and electrical equipment (+10.4%).
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